Here I am, posting this blog, photographing myself with my iPhone. I feel pretty tech-y, if I do say so myself.

Big companies are endlessly studying how teens (and tweens) are consuming media. (You know the studies and articles I’m talking about: “Teens are on Twitter” – “Facebook is the new MySpace” – “Texting is the end of Communicaton as We Know it!”) But the most interesting study I’ve read recently is one on The Way We Watch blog. The blogger is a dad, and he chronicles the media consumption of his two tween-agers – a 9-year old son and 12-year old daughter. While it’s not completely balanced, I think it’s more revealing than many of the Poynter Institute media studies I’ve seen in a long time. So, I decided to add my own media consumption habits as an alternative study case. And now I’m wondering, what does this all say about me?

29 year-old girl:

• Books are not dead (same as 9-year old boy AND 12-year old girl). Each day I have to swim though stacks of books just to find the door from my apartment to the outside world. Most recent acquisitions: City of Thieves, The Hunger Games, Love Begins in Winter, Guyaholic. Books I’ve actually finished in the last few weeks: Bitter is the New Black (too bitter for me), Lock & Key, Vegan Virgin Valentine, and The Believers. I do have a Sony eReader, although the only think I really read on it is manuscripts for work. I’m still carrying a paperback with me everywhere I go. Hmmm….maybe that’s why I’m starting to look like a hunchback.
• Gaming: I recently hooked my wii up to the internet and now can regularly get my butt kicked by strangers who seem to dedicate their lives to Dr. Mario. But I will never give up!
• Cell Phone: Ok – I sucked it up and got an iPhone. And I’m partially happy with the results. Aside from the fact that I get TERRIBLE, let me repeat – TERRIBLE! – service in Manhattan, I love the apps. Tweetie, Shazam. And yes, Wurdle. I am striving to be Wurdle world champion.
• Computers: I work on a Mac laptop at work, and an iMac at home. I’m a Mac girl all the way.
• Websites: Countless hours a day spent on the web. The New York Times for real news, Apartment Therapy for home decor lust, Kayak.com for dreaming about when I’m going to go on vacation next (and how much it’s going to cost), Twitter to stay in touch, Brodi Ashton’s blog (to crack me up – it’s so freaking funny), and if I’m feeling super foodie, I check out the daily recipe on Picky-Palate. Oh, and of course, I check out my own site, thinking about whether or not I really have anything to say in a blog post. Ususally I don’t. But I post anyway.
• Social Networks: the phrase “social networks” really annoys me, but I’m on them all the time. Facebook and Twitter are my faves. I realized the other day that I knew all about my friend’s breakup even though we haven’t actually spoken about it. So, I’m going to call her tonight. But other than not actually talking to my friends, these are a good way to stay in touch.
• IM: good for work. Really. Cuts down on so much email for me. My only problem is that I’m a chronic email filer. You know the type. We save everything in precisely labeled sub-sub-folders and can never find it when we really need it. You can’t sub-folder IMs.
• Movies and TV: I’m a Netflix addict. My husband and I get a few movies a week and this is how we end up watching most of our TV shows, too. I love being able to get back DVDs of shows like Mad Men and The Wire and sitting down and watching them hours at a time. And I’ve recently gotten hooked on Nova (yes, I’m a total dork) since you can stream all the episodes from your online Netflix account. And Hulu – talking about making life easy. We don’t even have a DVR. We just watch everything on our own time. Last movie I watched: He’s Just Not That Into You (on a plane).
• Magazines: My first true love. I get a TON of magazines at home and keep subscribing through this super cheap website: magazinepricesearch.com. I was crushed when Domino closed, but still keep busy with some of my other favorites: Teen Vogue, O the Oprah magazine, New York, Atlantic Monthly, People, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Seventeen, Real Simple, Nylon, More (I know it’s for 40 year-olds but I love this one!), Every Day with Rachael Ray, I could go on and on.
• Skype: My parents recently discovered this while traveling. They think they are tech geniuses (I tease them mercilessly) but I actually love being able to really talk to them even though they’re in a different country. The last few days it hasn’t worked and I miss them! Oh, and it’s free. Bonus!